Despite denials MAYOR DUTERTE WILL RUN FOR PRESIDENT SAYS ALLY

By Rio N. Araja

The Manila Standard

An opposition lawmaker and close friend of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said Sunday he believes Duterte will run for President next year despite his assertions he is not interested in running.

1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III predicted Duterte will substitute for Martin Diño, national chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption who recently withdrew his presidential bid under Demoktratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.

“I’ve known him [Duterte] for a very long time. He will always tell us that he already made a decision, but later he overturns himself. His style is like that,” Bello said.

“As a long time friend of Duterte, I have this strong feeling and belief that he will run for President, so let’s wait and see.”

Bello said the political landscape would change once Duterte joined the race.

“I would say that at least three presidential candidates [Manuel Roxas II, Grace Poe and Jejomar Binay] will be affected by his [Duterte’s] entry in the presidential race because their allies in Mindanao will shift their support to the Davao City mayor,” Bello said.

(Photo credit: Cong. Bello III photo downloaded from spot.ph.)